The day after: Leftovers from U of L's romp

Jody Demling

09/22/2013

Cardinal Authority takes a look at a few odds and ends on the day after a 72-0 romp over Florida International by the University of Louisville football team. The Cardinals are now 4-0 heading into the first open week.

GAINES HAS A HUGE GAME

The University of Louisville coaching staff has praised the athletic ability of Charles Gaines since the sophomore arrived on campus.

Gaines started as a defensive back, was moved to wide receiver and prior to this season moved back to cornerback. Now, he's making a huge contribution.

One week after picking off a pass against Kentucky, Gaines took the opening kickoff of the second half back 93 yards for a touchdown. He later added a fumble recovery off a muffed punt by Florida International in the 72-0 blowout.

"He's a played with a lot of ability and a lot of talent," U of L coach Charlie Strong said. "We've known he's had that. Now, it's just a matter of him becoming a part (of the team). He's still taking steps."

Gaines also has five tackles, two pass breakups and one deflection.

CARDS SLIP ONE IN COACHES' POLL

Not many times do you see a 72-point spread in college football and the team on the winning end drops in the polls.

U of L remained the same spot – No. 10 – in the Billingsley Top 50, while they moved up three spots to No 17 in the Sagarin Ratings.

In the first week of the College Matrix Top 50, the Cardinals are No. 18.

DEFENSE TOPS IN THE NATION

U of L's defense has allowed just 27 points in four games and is leading the nation in scoring defense at 6.8 points per contest.

The Cardinals are allowing just 88.3 yards a game – No. 11 nationally – and third in total defense at 221.3 yards a game.

Linebacker Preston Brown leads the U of L defense with 29 tackles, while linebacker James Burgess has 25 and safety Calvin Pryor has 19.

The Cardinals held FIU to just 33 yards of total offense in the first half, the lowest since minus-12 in the first half of the Grambling State game in 2000.

A FEW LEFTOVERS

Here are a few other leftovers from the game:

**The shutout was the third during the Charlie Strong-era.

**Louisville held FIU to 1 of 13 on third down and had a streak of 21 straight stops on third down until the Panthers converted in the third quarter.

**The 77-yard run by Dominique Brown in the second quarter was the longest since Bilal Powell's 85-yard run in 2010 against Cincinnati. It was the longest run that didn't result in a touchdown since Lionel Gates' 77-yard run in 2003.

**Hakeem Smith's start was his 42nd straight for the Cardinals.

**Zeke Pike and Matt Milton made their first career receptions, while tight end Keith Towbridge saw his first action of the season.

**John Wallace is now 6-for-7 this season on field goals and for his career is 20-of-21 from inside the 40-yard-line.